Chevalier, Tracy: *1962

The Virgin Blue, 1997 - Information about the Book

  • General Information
    • Although a historical novel, at heart it is a domestic drama. When Ella, a young American, moves to France, she finds her life begins to intersect with her ancestors in unusual ways.
    • Information from Tracy Chevalier's Homepage

    • Tracy Chevalier’s inspiration for writing "The Virgin Blue" stems from her personal family history and her fascination with the Huguenots’ plight. Her ancestors came from Moutier, Switzerland, and family lore suggested they were originally Huguenots from the Cévennes region in France. This connection motivated her to set the novel partly in that area, even though her research did not uncover direct ties to her family there.

      Chevalier was also inspired by the historical context of the Protestant Reformation and the persecution of Huguenots in 16th-century France. She conducted extensive research on this period, including visits to southern France, where she explored archives, local landscapes, and cultural elements to create an authentic backdrop for the story. Her exploration of themes like religious conflict and ancestral legacies was further enriched by her interest in how history shapes personal identity. Additionally, Chevalier’s creative process involved blending historical fiction with contemporary elements, as seen in the parallel narratives of Isabelle du Moulin in the 16th century and Ella Turner in modern times (for both see Historical Background on the linked page). This dual structure allowed her to juxtapose historical struggles with modern-day self-discovery.

  • Facts
    • Awards: The novel did not receive any major awards.

    • Some key points about The Virgin Blue:

      It alternates between Ella's modern-day story in France and Isabelle's tragic tale from the 1500s, with the two narratives eventually intertwining.

      Ella begins having vivid dreams about the color blue and discovers connections to her ancestor Isabelle, who was known as "La Rousse" for her red hair.

      Isabelle was a peasant girl suspected of witchcraft due to her red hair, midwifery skills, and devotion to the Virgin Mary and the color blue. She and her Huguenot husband were forced to flee France for religious freedom.

      The novel explores themes of outsiders, religious persecution, and the clash between Catholicism and Protestantism.


    • Reviewers and readers appreciated the dual storyline that alternates between the present day and the 16th century. This structure adds depth to the narrative and keeps the reader engaged as the two stories intertwine.

      Chevalier's attention to historical detail and her ability to bring the past to life were often praised. The historical narrative is well-researched and immerses readers in the period.

      Her descriptive writing style and ability to create a vivid sense of place were also noted positively. The settings in both the modern and historical narratives are richly described, adding to the book's immersive quality.

      Some reviewers mentioned that the pacing could be slow at times, particularly in the historical sections. However, this did not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment for most readers.

      Overall, "The Virgin Blue" is considered a strong debut novel that showcases Tracy Chevalier's talent for weaving together historical and contemporary narratives with compelling characters and richly detailed settings.

    • Reader Rating:
  • Author
  • Commentary
    • Tracy Chevalier’s "The Virgin Blue" is a historical fiction novel that intertwines the lives of two women separated by four centuries. The story alternates between Ella Turner, a modern-day American expatriate in France, and Isabelle du Moulin, a 16th-century Frenchwoman. Both women face struggles with identity, belonging, and the oppressive forces of their respective societies. Isabelle, nicknamed “La Rousse” for her red hair, becomes a target of religious persecution during the Reformation, while Ella uncovers unsettling family secrets as she researches her genealogy in rural France.

      Chevalier skillfully weaves themes of displacement, faith, and female resilience into a richly atmospheric narrative. The novel’s evocative descriptions of French landscapes and its exploration of historical and personal trauma create a hauntingly compelling tale. With elements of mystery and a touch of the supernatural, "The Virgin Blue" offers readers a poignant meditation on how the past shapes the present.

  • Reviews
    • Review: "The painterly prose, the ability to create a historical setting that takes you in immediately, the keenly drawn characters, and the complex worldview, are all here." ReadingGroupGuides; January 24, 2011
    • Review: "Something else I find hard to overlook is this book’s presentation of adultery. Whilst infidelity is a real-life issue that merits writerly attention, I think romanticising this behaviour is incredibly problematic." Darker Fables
  • Explanations
  • Use of Color
    • Color—especially blue—is more than descriptive. It serves as a powerful metaphor for religious devotion, feminine identity, emotional inheritance, and the thread that ties generations together. Blue is used symbolically throughout the novel to convey emotion, history, identity, and the connection between past and present.
      • Blue as a Symbol of the Virgin Mary and Oppression
        Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres: Virgin before the Host, 1852
        The title refers directly to the shade of blue traditionally associated with the Virgin Mary in religious iconography. Blue contained Lapis lazuli, a deep-blue rare, and at the time expensive rock.
        For Isabelle, blue represents both reverence and repression. In 16th-century France, the Virgin's blue becomes symbolic of the rigid religious structures that ultimately lead to her persecution.
        The color reflects the pressure on women to conform to religious and social expectations, with Isabelle's questioning of the Virgin Mary's role leading to her downfall.

        Blue as a Link Between Women Across Generations
        In the contemporary narrative, Ella is drawn to the color blue without fully understanding why. This shows how color acts as a subconscious link to her ancestry and roots.
        As Ella uncovers her family’s Huguenot history, blue becomes a thread connecting her to Isabelle—a kind of genetic or spiritual memory.

        Emotional Resonance of Blue
        Blue often evokes melancholy, longing, and introspection. These emotions are central to both women’s journeys.
        Ella’s restlessness and emotional turmoil are often framed through her attraction to or experience of the color blue in her surroundings, art, and dreams.

        Other Colors as Contrasts
        Though blue dominates symbolically, other colors are used sparingly to create contrast or highlight moments of clarity or danger. For example, red may appear in contexts of violence or passion, contrasting the cool restraint of blue.

        Artistic and Historical Context
        As a writer often interested in art and history, Chevalier uses color the way a painter might—layered with meaning.
        The Virgin Blue can be seen as a metaphor for how history and personal stories are layered, opaque, and rich with significance beneath the surface.

    • Tracy Chevalier’s Liberation through Images and Colours: "In art, as well as in "The Virgin Blue," colours represent the formless and uncontrollable part of reality." University of Modena and Reggio Emilia; 2012
    • Liberation through Images and Colours: "You know there is lapis lazuli in this blue. It was so expensive they could only use it for important things like the Virgin’s robe." Art and Subversion; December 2012 (pdf 14pp)

Letzte Änderung: 2025-07-21 · © SwissEduc-Team 1995–2025 · Impressum

Hosted by Metanet